Singletary Picked Best On Defense

January 01, 1986|By Michael O`Donnell.

Bears` middle linebacker Mike Singletary has been chosen the National Football League`s defensive player of the year by The Associated Press.

Singletary was selected over defensive end Howie Long of the Los Angeles Raiders and linebacker Andre Tippett of the New England Patriots in voting by three writers or broadcasters representing each of the NFL`s 28 franchises.

``They couldn`t pick a better one,`` said Bears` coach Mike Ditka, himself the winner of AP coach of the year honors. ``He`s a great example of what a football player should be. He works harder than anyone we have on the team. He`s a joy to be around.``

-- Ditka defended hapless Giants` placekicker Eric Schubert so passionately he had to catch himself. Schubert followed a field goal of 47 yards, his best as a pro, with misses from 43, 36 and 39 yards during the Giants` 17-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday. ``He was terrible yesterday, but he also kicked five in a row earlier when he won a game, and everybody forgot about that already,`` Ditka said. ``Yesterday was yesterday. What does yesterday have to do with next Sunday? Nothing. The kid had a bad day, and he`ll respond or rebound, you would hope. . . . if I was the Giants I would hope he would.``

-- The Bears have nothing to fear in Sunday`s playoff game against the Giants, including fear itself. Running back Matt Suhey reported: ``A lot of guys are scared to death that we`re going to lose. That`s a good sign. We`ve played so well so long. And now if we do lose, the season`s gone.``

-- The Green Bay Packers lost two more assistant coaches Tuesday. Herb Paterra, who has been the team`s linebacker coach for the last two years, is leaving to become defensive co-ordinator for the Buffalo Bills. And Ken Riley, who has been coaching the Packers` secondary the last two seasons, is leaving to become head coach at Florida A&M University. The moves came two days after Bob Schnelker was fired as the Packers` offensive co-ordinator.

NETS` RICHARDSON SUSPENDED

Micheal Ray Richardson, the New Jersey Nets` guard who disappeared four days ago, admitted Tuesday that he is once again suffering from a drug problem and turned himself in to the National Basketball Association for treatment.

Richardson will be suspended without pay indefinitely while he undergoes treatment, to be paid for by the club under the NBA`s drug policy.

Richardson vanished Friday night after a team party, and didn`t resurface until Monday when he telephoned his agent, Charles Grantham. Earlier Monday, the NBA announced that, if drugs were involved in his disappearance, Richardson would be treated as a second-time offender, not a third-timer.

A second-time offender is suspended without pay while completing a rehabilitation program. Three-time losers are banned from the league, with no chance to apply for reinstatement for two years.

CHELIOS SIDELINED

Montreal Canadiens` defenseman Chris Chelios will not accompany the club on a three-game western swing because of an injury to his left knee suffered Dec. 19 against the Nordiques in Quebec City.

Chelios, who grew up in Evergreen Park, has not skated since he was injured, and the Canadiens are reluctant to rush him.

``The injury suffered by Chris is quite serious and requires rest,`` said Dr. Eric Lenczcer, who said the knee has improved and no surgery is planned.

``It`s a big injury, and there is no need to take a chance at this time.``

-- Miroslav Ihnacak, the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs` center Peter Ihnacak, has defected from Czechoslovakia and signed a multiyear contract with the Leafs.

Team spokesman Bob Stellick said Ihnacak, 23, was in Vienna with Leafs`

general manager Gerry McNamara while team owner Harold Ballard tried to secure permission from the Canadian government to bring the Czech forward to Canada. Stellick said he did not know details of the weekend defection, but the Toronto Sun reported Tuesday that Ihnacak, who played for Kosice in Czechoslovakia, left his home and drove to Vienna, where he contacted the Leafs. Stellick said Ihnacak, chosen by the Leafs in the eighth round of the the 1982 draft, was placed on Toronto`s payroll as of Dec. 28.

PICK OF THE WOLFPACK

Dick Sheridan, 44, resigned as head football coach at Furman and signed a five-year contract to become North Carolina State`s fifth football coach in 10 years.

``It was a very difficult decision, not only for me, but for members of my staff,`` Sheridan said. ``It would take a very special situation to take me and our coaching staff away from Furman. A lot of things impressed me about the opportunity and the situation here.``

Sheridan replaces Tom Reed, whose team was 3-8 this season, his third at State. At Furman, Sheridan`s record was 69-23-2, 12-2 in 1985.